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Tribally owned gas stations offer cheaper fuel as Iran war drives up prices
Posted on 4/12/26 at 8:44 pm
Posted on 4/12/26 at 8:44 pm
quote:
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Junelle Lewis was on the hunt for a reprieve from Seattle-area gas prices driven high by the Iran war when an app on her phone gave her the answer: the Tulalip Reservation north of the city, almost half an hour from her home.
She didn't hesitate.
"I purposely drove here just for the gas," Lewis said while filling up her Chevrolet Suburban at the Tulalip Market this week for $4.84 a gallon (3.8 liters) — about 75 cents less than prices near home. "Gas is ridiculous. But I have found, honestly, over the years, this gas station specifically is cheaper than a lot around here. Probably the cheapest."
Lewis isn't the only driver who has discovered that some of cheapest fuel can be found on Native American reservations.
Especially in California, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma and Washington state — places with dozens of tribally owned stations, including some in busy travel corridors — tribes exempt from state fuel taxes can sell for much less than competing stations nearby.
quote:
Prices have been higher, topping $5 during the summer of 2022, but economists believe they will continue heading up and contribute to inflation in the weeks of ahead as geopolitical tension persists.
Deals are to be found, though, at many of the almost 500 tribally owned convenience stores with gas stations across the U.S.
quote:
How do tribes do it? Two words: Tax exemptions.
Generally tribes must pay the federal fuel tax of 18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline and 24.3 cents per gallon for diesel, and pass that cost along to drivers. State fuel taxes are a different matter.
For well over a century, U.S. courts have found that states don't have authority to collect taxes from Native Americans on their land, said Dan Lewerenz, a University of North Dakota assistant law professor who specializes in Native American law.
quote:
Convenience store gas sales are not as profitable as bringing people inside from the pumps.
Selling snacks adds profit. But tribal businesses are increasingly offering groceries in what otherwise would be "food deserts" far from grocery stores.
"Sometimes these gas stations and convenience stores are the nearest, best place to purchase affordable food or household supplies," said Matthew Klas, with the Minneapolis-based consultant Klas Robinson Q.E.D.
LINK
Posted on 4/12/26 at 8:57 pm to ragincajun03
The Coushatta tribe is about to open a large gas station between Lake Charles and Iowa. Wonder if they will sell gas cheaper there
Posted on 4/12/26 at 9:02 pm to ragincajun03
Driving an hour to save $15.....
Posted on 4/12/26 at 9:29 pm to fightin tigers
If you are picking up cheap cigs and booze too, it adds up.
Posted on 4/12/26 at 9:30 pm to ragincajun03
quote:
tribes exempt from state fuel taxes can sell for much less than competing stations nearby.
Wait, so government increases our cost of living through insane taxes?!
Posted on 4/12/26 at 9:52 pm to stout
Do they not pay taxes on all businesses or is it just the casinos?
Posted on 4/13/26 at 6:22 am to Chucktown_Badger
quote:
Wait, so government increases our cost of living through insane taxes?!
yup. pisses me off.
Posted on 4/13/26 at 6:44 am to stout
quote:
The Coushatta tribe is about to open a large gas station between Lake Charles and Iowa. Wonder if they will sell gas cheaper there
The Chitimachans have a tribal gas station right next to their own Cypress Bayou casino.
Not sure if they offer cheap gas and or slots at the gas station. It is called the Trading Post. But google streetview hasn’t passed there in 17 years so I can’t see a sign that would show the price of gas since it was a recent addition to their portfolio of businesses. I went to a St. Mary chamber function and one of the speakers was from the tribe. I was shocked at how many tribal businesses the Chitimachans were in. I guess being an Indian (non dot) is a big business.
I know some tribes have large casinos as a base and the open an off site mini casino at a gas station. One YouTuber I watch frequents gas station casinos in the Midwest.
This post was edited on 4/13/26 at 6:54 am
Posted on 4/13/26 at 6:50 am to ragincajun03
We were in upstate New York a couple of years ago and gas on the reservation was $0.70+ per gallon cheaper !
Posted on 4/13/26 at 6:55 am to ElderTiger
Fairly certain a lot of “gas taxes” and vehicle registrations go directly to pay for things like Dept of Transportation budgets. I know there’s been a lot of discussion of budget issues with electric vehicles not paying
Posted on 4/13/26 at 7:36 am to ragincajun03
Indians getting their own land/nations is stupid.
Posted on 4/13/26 at 10:11 am to HagaDaga
quote:
Indians getting their own land/nations is stupid.
Alexander Hamilton ghost post.
Posted on 4/13/26 at 11:39 am to ragincajun03
In Oklahoma, the NA-owned gas stations / convenience stores are the nicest you'll ever see.
Posted on 4/13/26 at 11:41 am to ragincajun03
Slapaho tribe in my area has a nice discount.
Posted on 4/13/26 at 11:45 am to stout
They have a gas station a little east of the casino named Buffalo run (not feather fuel along 165) on the reservation. My grandparents from Kinder always fill up there because it’ll be 30 cents cheaper than any station in town.
Posted on 4/13/26 at 12:05 pm to ragincajun03
Some of those tribal gas stations in Washington are incredibly nice. Basically smaller Bucky's. Big Nation Station in Auburn is legit. As is the Chevron is Sequim.
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